Phantom of the Opera Cast Recording

[chino]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:04pm

Was listening to this awhile ago, so London VS Canadian Recording which one is better? and why?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:06pm

I actually prefer the Guatemalan recording, along with the Alaskan one.

For ALL the obvious reasons.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:09pm

neither. no Phantom recording leaves me completely satisfied.

[chino]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:42pm

BrodyFosse123 have you heard the Korean one? How about Yugoslavian one? That one, I think is the best! You should check it out.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:59pm

I admit I'm not a huge fan of this show anymore--especially when I can't watch Hal Prince's perfect direction and justhear it, btu I was as a ten year old and I still play it every so often...

Canadian hands down. Little of the music missing in it from the COmplete is of much importance, and I admit I find Sarah Brightman's voice too thin (whatever happened to Rebecca Caine--what a gorgeous voice) and while I'm not a HUGE Colm fan I find him much preferable (Sacrilege I know) and a much more commanding "Phantom"

[GClef2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:08pm

I get satisfaction from all of my phantom recordings.

But they always leave without a word the next morning :-/

[KQuill]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:48pm

I'm not a huge Colm fan...I definitly prefer the OLC.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:59pm

I prefer not to hear "cheezey" lyrics and music that rips off everyone from Puccini to Loewe. Try the Maury Yeston version.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:57pm

While I am not one to defend Lyrics in Webber shows, I must mention two clunkers from the Yeston Phantom:
From The Count's song:
"who could ever have dreamed up you?
I'm totally gone, heartbroken and all askew"
Or from Christine's first act bistro song:
"Melody, melody, melody melody
sung so melodiously"


Come on!!! There is little comparision

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:03am

Phantom has many WFUL AWFUl lyrics. But Yeston's score IMHo is one of his most eye roll worthy--some theatre friends of mine in h school (god we wer eobnoxious) used to often sing the "The Phantom, the theatre is haunted by a Phantom a Phantom" or whatever it was whenever we were bored...

[lostgirl]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:16am

To answer a previous question Rebecca Caine's opera and solo career is triving . Her Leading Ladies of the British Stage concert is currently being recorded for an album and she's been doing a lot of opera. She's featured on a recording of a "very modern" opera called Mr. Emmett Takes A Walk that was released this week

[lesmisforever]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:16am

I don't like either of them, actually. I prefer some of the international ones.

[Holly Therese]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:34am

I have to say, I don't love either one. But I will say Rebecca Caine is worth purchasing the Canadian one. Her voice is very rich and beautiful.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:00am

it's funny to me that cheesy lyrics and ripped off music were used in the same sentence and we weren't actually talking about Maury Yeston...

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:03am

I mainly just have the London cast for Steve Barton now, though I wore out plenty of copies when I was younger.

I don't care for the Canadian much, except for Rebecca.

The best I've heard is the Stockholm recording. I don't speak a word of Swedish, but Mikael's "Music of the Night" is gorgeously dark and compelling and Elisabeth Berg is just simply wonderful as Christine. Raoul is so-so here and Madame Giry is a low point. But Notes/Prima Donna is rather funny, despite the language barrier.

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:06am

My favorite is the original cast recording with Michael and Sarah. They are both stupendous in their roles, especially Michael when compared to Colm on the Canadian cast recording. The orchestrations are also lusher on the London one and it's more complete. The movie soundtrack is horrible due to Gerard Butler's low (or rather non-existing) singing abilities.